Man's Search for MeaningRecommendations
About the book
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl's theory-known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos ("meaning")-holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful.
At the time of Frankl's death in 1997, Man's Search for Meaning had sold more than 10 million copies in twenty-four languages. A 1991 reader survey for the Library of Congress that asked readers to name a "book that made a difference in your life" found Man's Search for Meaning among the ten most influential books in America.
Beacon Press, the original English-language publisher of Man's Search for Meaning, is issuing this new paperback edition with a new Foreword, biographical Afterword, and classroom materials to reach new generations of readers.
People recommending Man's Search for Meaning
What readers say about ‘Man's Search for Meaning’
Lex Fridman on Man's Search for Meaning
“"I reread [this book] quite often."”
Fedor Holz on Man's Search for Meaning
“"[From it] I interpreted that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, and that having meaning in our life is essential."”
Steve Kerr on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Incredibly inspiring."”
Chelsea Handler on Man's Search for Meaning
“"One of those beautiful accounts of a terrible time in our history. His calm and sagaciousness, while witnessing one horror after another played out during his time in three separate concentration camps, is awe inspiring."”
Naval Ravikant on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Wow it's dark."”
Jimmy Fallon on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Talks about the meaning of life, and I believe you come out a better person from reading it."”
Alastair Humphreys on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Slim but packed with wisdom that I often come back to. I really recommend you read it."”
Bryan Johnson on Man's Search for Meaning
“"His basic point is no matter the conditions we surround ourselves in, we can author our life."”
Ev Williams on Man's Search for Meaning
“On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.”
Daniel Pink on Man's Search for Meaning
“"A hugely important book for me."”
PewDiePie on Man's Search for Meaning
“"A great tool to help people. [...] In case something really bad happens, I feel like, from reading this book, I'm better equipped to handle it."”
Jim Kwik on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Illustrates that it’s not our circumstances but the decisions we make that diminish or develop us."”
Ryan Holiday on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Looks at how we find purpose by dedicating ourselves to a cause, learning to love and finding a meaning to our suffering."”
Shane Parrish on Man's Search for Meaning
“"As hard as you think your life is, it pales in comparison to Auschwitz."”
David Blaine on Man's Search for Meaning
“"One of my favorite books."”
Turia Pitt on Man's Search for Meaning
“"[If people are] doing a bit of soul searching, hands down [I give them this book]."”
Dave Elitch on Man's Search for Meaning
“Dave Elitch mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.”
Esther Perel on Man's Search for Meaning
“"The book I’ve probably gifted the most is [this book], since I’m 16."”
Maria Popova on Man's Search for Meaning
“"A meditation on what the gruesome experience of Auschwitz taught [the author] about the primary purpose of life: the quest for meaning, which sustained those who survived."”
Simon Sinek on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Single most important book you can read."”
Michael Hyatt on Man's Search for Meaning
“Michael Hyatt recommended this book on his website.”
Michael Gervais on Man's Search for Meaning
“"Outlines methods to discover deep meaning and purpose in life."”
Sam Altman on Man's Search for Meaning
“This book was on Sam Altman's bookshelf.”
Jocko Willink on Man's Search for Meaning
“Jocko Willink covered this book in "Jocko Podcast" Ep. 78”
Chip Conley on Man's Search for Meaning
“"If I were to take the meaning of [this book], and turn it into an equation, it would be despair equals suffering minus meaning."”
Tom Bilyeu on Man's Search for Meaning
“Tom Bilyeu recommended this book on his website.”
